The content that follows was originally published on the Darby Pop Publishing website at http://www.darbypop.com/beyond-the-cover/side-kicked-meet-the-cast-phantasm/

In a world where the only thing worse than a supervillain is an egomaniacal superhero, it is up to the under-paid, under-appreciated sidekicks to both make their partners look good and keep common citizens out of danger. But what happens when the sidekicks decide that they’ve had enough? That’s the core question in SIDE-KICKED, a 96-page original graphic novel by Russell Brettholtz and Miguel Mendonca coming from Darby Pop Publishing this October.

And who are these haughty heroes, vicious villains, and sacrificial sidekicks? Find out in our new blog series, Meet the Cast!

Background: As a child, Richard would complain about “lights” that were keeping him awake at night, and was prescribed a sedative. During his freshman year at Chicago City College, the “lights” returned—or more specifically, a ball of light floating in the center of his room. Richard sought to exert control over the “lights,” and, finally, was able to make them appear and disappear at will. He then learned to move them around the room with his thoughts. He could control their shape and density. The only thing Richard couldn’t do was to alter their color; the “lights” were always—and remain—yellow. Which is NOT Richard’s most flattering color.

Hero: Mr. Marvelous,Chicago’s most powerful hero, has an ego that makes even his mighty muscles seem small by comparison. He’s practically undefeatable with his powers of flight, super strength, and near-invulnerability, but he can also be reckless in how he handles his business and the collateral damage he often causes. Luckily, Mr. Marvelous has Phantasm to back him up and clean up after him.

Villain: Crimson is the villain’s villain. Heroes fear him, villains want to be him, and sidekicks hope they never meet him in a dark alley. He wields a vast array of technological wonders, complimented by deadly fighting skills and a sharp tactical mind. Even when he is beaten, it is nearly impossible to make any charges stick to Crimson, and many wonder if he has the cops on his payroll.

Side-Kicked (TP) is now available for pre-order from your local comics shop with order code: AUG15 1606, and will be released in-stores and digitally in late October. Stay tuned for future entries to meet the rest of our core cast.